PARADISE? - Season 4, Episode 11
Prologue
Jaime hadn't stopped chattering since the boat had dropped them off, and aside from a brief moment when he wondered (with a chuckle) who had put a quarter in her, it made Steve's heart sing to hear her sound so genuinely happy again. ''They said a cabin - a cabin, Steve! This place is almost as big as our house! And have you seen the kitchen? There's all sorts of fresh fruit...and seafood...and steaks! I think I saw a grill outside, too! Oh - and chilled champagne! And...the bedroom! Did you see the bed?''
''The OSI likes to go in style,'' he told her, doubting she'd heard him as she danced and flitted from room to room. It was indeed, spacious for a 'cabin' but built and furnished in the style of the Islands, so it retained that small island feel. Steve had, in fact, poked his head into the bedroom (what honeymooner wouldn't?). The king-sized bed had a puffy down-filled comforter nestled across the top and plenty of down pillows piled at the headboard. The rest of the house was luxuriously cozy too - but he was a man and this was his honeymoon. There was no hurry, though. He was just happy to be here with Jaime and - after all they'd been through with Cobra for more than two months - happy that they were both alive.
It was a honeymoon long overdue. He and Jaime had just celebrated their one-month anniversary but a hospital stay (one of many, during Cobra's reign of terror) just two days after they'd eloped had necessitated some further recovery time at home afterward before their team of doctors felt they were strong enough to truly enjoy this trip. The cast had finally been removed from Steve's arm - and Jaime had adjusted well to her second bionic replacement surgery in less than a month. After everything they'd both been through, Oscar had arranged this trip as a reward/rejuvenation for them - two weeks of sunshine in Paradise, with nothing to do but enjoy each other and spend some quality time re-connecting again. Their doctors (Rudy and Mark Conrad) were housed in another cabin on the opposite side of the tiny, private island (should any needs arise) but with the lush vegetation it was as if he and Jaime were completely (finally) alone.
And suddenly, Jaime's happy chattering stopped. She'd emerged from the bedroom and was smiling at him, wearing a bikini top and sarong skirt that left him speechless too. ''I'm guessing you like it?'' she laughed. ''How 'bout you pick your jaw up off the floor and we go out and stick our toes in that water?''
''Lady, in that outfit, I will follow you anywhere!''
Where he did follow her was outside and across the lush green lawn to their own private strip of white sand that bordered crystal-blue water in front of the cabin. Jaime shed the sarong (to Steve's great appreciation) and dove straight in, looking every bit like she'd been born to frolic in the clean, clear water. When he didn't immediately follow, she giggled and sent a bionic tidal-wave of a splash in his direction, almost forcing him to strip down.
''Gotta get you out of those civvies and into some fun somehow!'' she crowed joyfully. Her splash had the desired effect, as Steve was 'forced' to strip down to his boxers - and soon they were playing in the surf together, laughing, splashing...and pausing every so often for long, deep, tantalizing kisses.
''Are you sure you want to be swimming right now?'' Steve asked, pulling her even closer.
''Well...'' Jaime leaned into him...and then her whole body stiffened. ''Steve? I hear something...''